Egg supporting tray

Abstract

An egg supporting tray is provided which has a plurality of egg pockets. Each egg pocket is formed by four posts which are interconnected by ribs. Each surface of the four posts, which forms a part of an egg pocket, has a concave surface on the upper portion thereof and a ridge on the lower portion thereof. The ridge provides substantially four point contact for a small egg which improves washing and drying and reduces water spotting. The concave surface enables the egg supporting tray to accommodate large eggs.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An egg supporting tray comprising: a plurality of equidistantly spaced hollow posts arranged in equidistantly spaced parallel rows and equidistantly spaced parallel columns transverse to said rows, wherein the apexes of said plurality of posts are in a first plane and the bases of said plurality of posts are in a second plane and wherein a plurality of egg pockets are formed by said plurality of posts;   a concave surface, on each one of the surfaces of said plurality of posts which form a part of an egg pocket, extending from a point close to but below said first plane to a point close to but below a third plane which is parallel to the first and second planes and which extends through a midportion of said plurality of posts, wherein the direction of concavity is towards the center of said posts and each concave surface has substantially the curvature of a side portion of an egg; and   an elongated ridge, on each one of the surfaces of said plurality of posts which form a part of an egg pocket, extending from the end of said concave surface which is below said third plane to a point above the said second plane, wherein each elongated ridge is substantially perpendicular to said third plane except for any slope in the surface of said posts with respect to said third plane and wherein each elongated ridge projects outwardly from the surface of said posts.   
     
     
       2. An egg supporting tray in accordance with claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of ribs arranged in said parallel rows and said parallel columns so as to interconnect said plurality of posts, wherein each rib extends from said third plane to said second plane. 
     
     
       3. An egg supporting tray in accordance with claim 2 wherein said posts are substantially frustoconical. 
     
     
       4. An egg supporting tray in accordance with claim 3 wherein said third plane is substantially equidistantly spaced from said first and second plane. 
     
     
       5. An egg supporting tray in accordance with claim 4 wherein each one of said plurality of ribs is a tapered rib, with respect to the center of said egg pocket, having the narrower portion at said third plane and the wider portion at said second plane. 
     
     
       6. An egg supporting tray in accordance with claim 5 wherein each elongated ridge terminates at a point substantially equidistant from said second and third planes.